LOS ANGELES – Walker Buehler is being activated from the injured list and is available to play for the Dodgers on Wednesday against the Brewers in Milwaukee after making three rehab appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
His first two starts during this rehab phase were rough, allowing eight runs in 7⅓ innings. But he rebounded Thursday against Round Rock with five strikeouts in 5⅓ innings, allowing just one run on one hit and three walks.
“Physically, he’s in good shape. Obviously, he’s had a good performance. It’s still important to go out there and feel good after the last performance before you come back,” manager Dave Roberts said Saturday at Dodger Stadium. “I honestly think that’s good and Walker has felt so confident physically and mentally this year.”
When Buehler is used on Wednesday after a five-day rest, the Dodgers will have six starting pitchers in the first six games of a 13-game series. Roberts has not committed to a six-man rotation beyond the series against the Brewers.
“I don’t know if we have an answer to that right now,” Roberts said. “Wednesday is the deadline (for Buehler), but beyond that I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Rehabilitation plans
Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor completed simulated at-bats against minor league pitchers Robinson Ortiz and Jholbran Herder on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Betts is scheduled to take batting practice with the team on Sunday and will be activated on Monday in Milwaukee to play right field.
Taylor, who has been out since July 25 with a strained left groin, will head to Camelback Ranch to continue at bat next week while the Dodgers are on the road.
“After that, it just depends on his progress,” Roberts said of Taylor.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has thrown two bullpen sessions over the past week and a half and will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday. Roberts said Yamamoto will then join the team next weekend in St. Louis to face real hitters.
Yamamoto told reporters Wednesday that he would likely participate in some minor league rehab at some point, but nothing has been planned in that regard.
Ryan Brasier is six games into his rehab assignment with Oklahoma City and pitched back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday. He’ll stay in Triple-A a bit longer, with a multi-inning assignment likely the last box he needs to check before being activated. Brusdar Graterol and Michael Grove each pitched back-to-back games in Triple-A once before being activated last week.
“If all goes well, Ryan should come to us in St. Louis,” Roberts said of Brasier.
